‘The Game Isn’t Over’: Iranian Filmmaker Says US Misjudged Iran’s Resolve
Two women and a child holding an Iranian flag walk toward the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque to attend Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 20, 2026. 
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States has underestimated the resilience of the Iranian people, counting on their weakness after military strikes, prominent Iranian writer and film director, Habid Ahmadzadeh, told RIA Novosti. “When the US attacked Iran, it assumed the Iranian nation was a losing team in the locker room even before they took the first step onto the field. Now, instead of the usual ninety minutes, the game continues much longer,” Ahmadzadeh said, using football terminology ahead of the FIFA World Cup in the United States, where the Iranian team will participate. Ahmadzadeh pointed out that the Americans are “stuck in the swampy terrain” of the Strait of Hormuz.
Habib Ahmadzadeh is a prominent Iranian filmmaker and writer, best known for his movies Night Bus and The Miracle of Bonasan. His books were translated into multiple languages, and he received several national and international awards for achievements in culture and peacemaking.
US-Israel War on IranIran Launched Missile Strikes on US Fighter Jets at Air Base in Jordan — Reports03:58 GMT On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East. On April 7, Washington and Tehran announced a ceasefire. Subsequent talks held in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough.
